Ibex Outdoor Clothing Wears Its Environmental Ethic on Its Sleeves
September 08 2006 - 3:21PM
Business Wire
Ibex Outdoor Clothing, a Woodstock company with a reputation for
high-quality outdoor wear crafted from Merino wool and other
natural fibers and produced with an eye on the environment, is
adding cows to its stable of renewable suppliers - for energy.
Ibex, with its headquarters and warehouse in Woodstock and sales
across North America, Europe and Asia, has signed up to receive all
of its electricity from CVPS Cow Power(TM), one of the country's
fastest-growing renewable energy programs. More than 3,460 Central
Vermont Public Service customers, over 2.2 percent, are now
enrolled. "Since our start in 1997, our philosophy has been to
integrate our business with the environment, and to rely on fully
renewable materials to produce our clothing," co-founder and Chief
Executive Officer John Fernsell said. "CVPS Cow Power(TM) is a
natural fit for Ibex. It provides a way for Ibex to not only limit
its environmental footprint, but to actually improve the
environment." Ibex consumed over 36,000 kilowatt-hours of
electricity last year. Cow Power produced to serve the company's
headquarters and warehouse is expected to have an environmental
impact equivalent to removing 105 metric tons of CO2 from the air
annually. That's akin to removing 23 cars (burning 12,000 gallons
of gasoline) from the highway. "This is a company where many
employees bike to work, where free-range Merino is the material of
choice, and where we continually re-examine how we can reduce our
environmental impacts," Fernsell said. "Purchasing Cow Power is one
more way we can demonstrate our commitment to Vermont, its farmers
and to the environment at large." CVPS Cow Power(TM) is the
nation's only manure-based renewable energy program linking
consumers and farmers. CVPS customers can choose to receive all,
half or a quarter of their electrical energy through Cow Power, and
pay a premium of 4 cents per kilowatt hour, which goes to
participating farm-producers, to purchase renewable energy credits
when enough farm energy isn't available, or to the CVPS Renewable
Development Fund. The fund provides grants to farm owners to
develop on-farm generation. Farm-producers are also paid 95 percent
of the market price for the energy sold to CVPS. Ibex has chosen to
receive 100 percent of its energy through CVPS Cow Power(TM). The
program was designed to help farmers improve manure management
while providing new financial opportunities to Vermont dairy
producers. Manure and other farm waste are held in a sealed
concrete tank at the same temperature as a cow's stomach, 101
degrees. Bacteria digest the volatile components, creating methane
and killing pathogens and weed seeds. The methane, which is roughly
20 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the
atmosphere, fuels an engine/generator. Blue Spruce Farm in Bridport
was the first CVPS Cow Power(TM) producer, starting in January
2005. Four other farms are in the process of developing generators
and are expected on-line late this year or early in 2007. The four
farms, which received grants totaling more than $660,000 from the
CVPS Renewable Development Fund to help get them started, include:
-- Green Mountain Dairy Farm in Sheldon, owned by Brian and Bill
Rowell; -- Montagne Farms in St. Albans, two farms owned by Dave
Montagne; -- Newmont Farms LLC in Fairlee, owned by Walter and
Margaret Gladstone; and -- Deer Flats Farm in West Pawlet, owned by
Dick and Rich Hulett. CVPS President Bob Young said customers like
Ibex demonstrate the best in Vermont's business sector. "Everyone
says they support a clean environment, but Ibex and our other Cow
Power customers are really putting their words into action," Young
said. "They are showing a level of social responsibility that
should serve as a model for all of us."
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